Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Mauritania

Accommodation

$8-25 per night

Basic guesthouses, auberges, shared rooms in budget lodges, camping where available

Food & Dining

$5-15 per day

Local street food, traditional restaurants, markets, self-prepared meals when possible

Transportation

$3-12 per day

Shared bush taxis (taxi-brousse), public buses, walking, occasional hitchhiking

Activities

$5-20 per day

Free cultural sites, local markets, basic desert excursions, community interactions

Eat at local markets and traditional restaurants instead of hotel dining (typically 60-80% cheaper)

Use shared bush taxis (taxi-brousse) instead of private vehicles for long distances (usually 70-85% savings)

Join group desert tours rather than private expeditions (generally 50-70% less expensive)

Stay in local guesthouses outside main tourist areas (often 40-60% cheaper than city center hotels)

Buy supplies and snacks at local markets rather than hotels or tourist shops (typically 200-400% markup avoided)

Travel during shoulder seasons when accommodation rates drop significantly (usually 30-50% savings)

Negotiate prices for multi-day activities or longer stays (commonly 15-25% discounts available)

Only eating at hotels and tourist restaurants instead of exploring local dining (typically costs 200-300% more)

Taking private transport for every journey without considering shared options (usually 3-5x more expensive)

Not negotiating prices for tours and activities, especially for longer commitments (missing potential 20-40% savings)

Traveling only during peak season without considering weather and pricing alternatives (paying 40-80% premium unnecessarily)